Dancing: What’s With the Shoes?

With the steady increase of dance related television shows popping up, it’s only natural that more and more people are choosing to study dance. Like any sport, dancers are required to make certain investments, including proper dance attire. Dance attire is relatively simple, but rather specific. Most dance styles require form-fitting clothing such as leotards and tights, while other styles such as hip hop suggest more loose and casual clothing. A dancer’s shoes, however, are often essential to successfully executing the instructed steps. It’s interesting to ponder which types of shoes are right for each style and why they are used. Here’s a look at a few popular styles of dance and the shoes that should be used.

In the world of ballroom dancing, most dance shoes require a rather high heel. The high heel contributes to the elegance that the costume typically emits. The high heel shoe pushes a dancer’s weight forward onto the balls of the feet, therefore creating a different type of posture and presence as reflected in this style of dancing. These shoes are often fabulously sparkly and/or bright in color, not unlike the typical ballroom costumes.

The shoes a ballet dancer wears are quite different than ballroom shoes. These shoes are soft in order to allow for exceptional flexibility, flat to the ground (no heels), and often matte unless produced in satin. The design of ballet shoes stay consistently similar over time, which demonstrates their suitability for the task at hand. Ballet shoes feel very light and fit snug to the foot. Dancers wearing ballet shoes must work through all of the tiny muscles in their feet, including the toes, and the softness of the shoe allows one to fully connect with and work through the floor. The beautiful arch of the foot is an attribute that ballet dancers wish to show off, and the ballet shoe should allow this to be seen.

Jazz shoes are similar in nature to ballet shoes, but often come with a very low heel. The heel is intended to indicate the jazz style. The soles of a jazz shoe should be soft in order to allow dancers to point their feet and execute turns. Popular jazz shoe style has evolved over the years almost as much as the style of dance itself has evolved. Jazz shoes in the past often required laces to keep the shoe snug to the foot. Current day jazz shoes are often a slip-on style, composed of leather with enough elasticity to remain tight on the foot. Many of today’s dancers prefer to wear a style of jazz shoe called the “gore boot.”

The type of tap shoes a person may wear can vary quite a bit from studio to studio, and will depend on the specific style of tap that the instructor favors. However, all kinds of tap shoes will have two metal plates attached to the sole to produce sounds. Some tap shoes are essentially a “character shoe”, meaning they are a high heeled shoe with a buckled closure and taps attached to the bottom. This style of shoe correlates to a more classical style of tap that you may associate with traditional Broadway Musicals. Other tap shoes may include a more Oxford style lace-up shoe that is lower to the ground for maximum intensity of sounds. Some of the styles of the flat tap shoes can vary as well, while some contain a flexible sole and others are more structured and stiff. Low heeled tap shoes like this are associated with Hoofing, or Street Tap.

  

It’s important to seek out the advice of a professional at a dance attire store when fitting for dance shoes, as an improper fit could affect one’s performance. If there is not a specific type of shoe required from your instructor, it’s still a good idea to speak with him or her to decide the best option for you. If you want to think outside the box, sometimes dance shoes can be customized by colors, fabrics, and design so you could have some fun with it! Most of all, functionality should override appearance if you are looking to do your absolute best as you learn your craft. Choose wisely, as you’ll want a quality brand of shoe that holds up over time.

The Benefits of Being a Competitive Dancer

For nearly all competitive dancers, the trophy that they earn at competition is only one of the many things they stand to gain. Sure, dancers want to get the highest possible score and hear the name of their routine announced in the Overall High Point Awards, but most of the time dancers are the most excited the moment they step off the stage. The feeling of accomplishment that washes over a dancer after a job well done is hard to describe. As dancers grow and progress in a positive, competitive atmosphere, they often experience boosts in confidence, camaraderie with teammates, and self-satisfaction. Competitive dance teaches dancers good sportsmanship, working together in a team environment, and strong work ethic so that dancers may continue to set new goals and strive to reach them. Because dance is not just a sport but an art form as well, dancers who compete will support and appreciate the talents of their teammates even when competing against one another. Competitive dance is a great way to allow children to experience hard work paying off, and serves as an incentive for future success in life’s projects.

What to look for in a Dance Studio?

To some, choosing a dance studio may not seem like a big deal. They may choose one in close proximity to their home, or they may choose the studio that their friends’ children already attend. Some may think that unless their child dreams of being a professional dancer that choosing a studio doesn’t much matter. To the contrary, a dance studio can be so much more than that! For many dancers, the studio is a second home, a safe haven, and a place in which they interact with friends who become as close as family. Many children who study dance do not move on to become professional dancers, however the memories they make at their home studio are irreplaceable. Choosing the right studio is sometimes instrumental a child’s development.

Sometimes when parents choose a studio for their children they overlook the bigger picture. Parents should look closely at their options and ask themselves what their child has to gain from each option. Choosing a suitable and quality dance studio might be a daunting task for people who are experiencing this for the first time; there are, however some basic things to look for in a studio. These bullet points can help you choose the best dance studio to enhance your children’s skills, and potentially lead them on a professional path if you are so inclined.

Experienced and Qualified Instructors:

The heart of the dance studio is within the instructors. You’ll want to be sure that your mentor is qualified and experienced. A knowledgeable and experienced dance instructor can help to polish a dancer’s skills and inspire hard work and practice at home.

A quality instructor can pinpoint a dancer’s weak and strong points and explain how to apply corrections and critiques accordingly. The benefits of a good instructor go beyond dance; a great instructor will be patient with students as they teach life lessons in diligence, respect, and hard work.

Safety of Students:

With any physical activity, risk of injury is a possibility. In a good dance studio, however, instructors will put in maximum effort to reduce the risks. Safety of students is of the utmost importance. Qualified instructors will ensure that dancers have stretched, warmed up properly, and that they are attempting technique that aligns with their current abilities. The equipment used, specifically the dance floor, must be high-quality and able to absorb impact to ensure safe use over time.

Variety of Classes and Levels:

It’s important to check out what styles of dance your studio offers. Is your studio versatile? Do they offer beginner and advanced classes in every style? There must be a difference between the level of dance a dance studio is teaching to beginners and to advanced students. Most studios will offer the basics, such as jazz, ballet, and tap, but you may seek out a more well-rounded experience. Look for studios that offer these styles plus classes such as hip hop, contemporary, and lyrical.

Atmosphere and Environment:

One of the most important and basic things to look for in a good dance studio is the environment. A good dance studio will always have a friendly and nurturing environment. The teachers must be friendly, fun, and professional. A good student-teacher bond will usually bring out a student’s maximum capabilities.